MLB Rumors

Mets starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner was on the wrong side of the ledger Saturday against the Cubs, as he remains winless through his first eight starts.

Hefner allowed four runs in four innings of work, all coming in his fourth and final inning. He faced just two batters over the minimum in his first three innings, with one hit and walk as his only blemishes before he fell apart in the fourth.

The Cubs jumped on Hefner for four runs on four hits and a walk in the fourth inning. He also hit a batter. Hefner finished with three strikeouts, two walks and five hits allowed in four innings en route to an 8-2 loss.

The Mets have lost each of Hefner's starts this season, and he is 0-5 with a 5.00 ERA. Hefner will try to turn things around Friday against the Braves. 

The Blue Jays promoted prospect John Stilson to Triple-A Buffalo, Sportsnet.ca reports Saturday.

Stilson, who spent the first month of the season on the minor-league DL, could become an option down the road for the Blue Jays.

The 22-year-old posted a 3.86 ERA over two appearances with Double-A New Hampshire.

Indians starter Zach McAllister has now recorded 10 starts in a row having gone at least five innings with three earned runs allowed or fewer. It is the longest such run since Josh Tomlin did it 11 times from 2010 through 2011.

Unfortunately, Chris Perez gave up back-to-back homers in the ninth and that burned McAllister's lead. He settled for a no-decision.

McAllister gave up two earned runs on six hits and a walk over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out one and was hurt by Brendan Ryan's two-run homer in the eighth. His ERA is 2.65.

McAllister has won his last two decisions and has allowed just six runs over his last four starts spanning 28 innings. His next scheduled start comes Thursday at Boston.

He wasn't pitching at Safeco Field and so Joe Saunders couldn't have been expected to have a much better performance Saturday in Cleveland.

Saunders, who has been awful on the road and a stud at home for the Mariners this season, avoided taking another road loss against the Indians thanks to back-to-back homers in the top of the ninth.

He gave up four runs on 11 hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings with two strikeouts as his ERA stands at 5.64 for the year.

Saunders (3-4) has gone 3-0 over four starts at Safeco Field with just three runs allowed over 30 2/3 innings. Saunders' next start comes Friday against Texas at home.

Indians closer Chris Perez couldn't hold a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning against the Mariners Saturday.

He ended up earning the win in a 5-4 victory.

Perez (2-0) gave up back-to-back homers to Raul Ibanez and Justin Smoak in the ninth, but the Indians won it in the bottom of the frame.

For Perez, it was his second blown save this year. He had one strikeout and his ERA is at 1.80.

Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning of Saturday's game against the Indians. The homer cut the Tribe's lead to 4-2, but Cleveland held on for a 5-4 win.

Ryan went 2 for 3 on Saturday with two RBI.

Ryan has a five-game hitting streak and is 8 for 19 on the trip with three RBI. He's batting .178 on the year.

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano smashed two, two-run home runs on Saturday during a 7-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Cano went deep in the third inning off Brandon Morrow and again took him deep in the fifth. He has 12 homers on the year.

Cano went 2 for 4 in the game, raising his average to .295. He's driven in runs in three straight games and has 31 RBI on the year.

With Eric O'Flaherty hitting the disabled list, the Braves recalled reliever Cory Rasmus from Triple-A Gwinnett Saturday. He will be in uniform for the team's game that night against the Dodgers.

Rasmus has never pitched in the majors, but has an 0.93 ERA and seven saves in 19 1/3 innings in Triple-A this season.  

Yankees designated hitter Travis Hafner (shoulder) returned to action on Saturday during a 7-2 win over Toronto.

Hafner went 1 for 4 with his seventh home run of the season. He went deep in the eighth inning off Darren Oliver for a two-run blast.

Hafner is batting .260.

Braves reliever Eric O'Flaherty was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday due to a left elbow strain.

O'Flaherty pitched in Friday's game against the Dodgers, allowing a solo home run, but it is not clear if the injury already was bothering him. He has a 2.50 ERA in 19 appearances.

The team called up pitcher Cory Rasmus from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his place in the rotation.